I have met many brilliant people over the years but you have been the most important and most original of them all.

Jawan's unmistakable political message is that democracy can’t be left to politicians without the constant vigilance of ‘active citizens’.

The role of citizens in a democracy is not just to vote in elections, but to ask questions 'in between' elections.

The brief third test match between India and England resembled recent elections in India more than it did any other cricket game.

The culture of the farmers' protest is an extraordinary tableau that tells us what republican values look like.

Political parties in India may have won landslide victories in elections, but should parties with unelected leaders be part of democratic politics?

"They must be happy having won the elections but what is it with the gestures they were making to me? I recognise them, they are friends of Majhi’s, our very own TMC leader."

This was an audience that wants desperately to believe India finally has a leader who will turn around the country's fortunes and put an end to their sense of shame at its failings.